1616.org | Designing a Holistic Learning Platform for Youth Hockey Wellbeing

Overview
1616 is a 16-week wellness program for youth hockey players, designed to promote mental, physical, and social development through a research-backed curriculum, interactive learning, and storytelling from top NHL athletes. Developed by the Ladd Foundation, the initiative seeks to reshape youth hockey culture by integrating performance with character and connection.

My role focused on refining the platform’s learning management system (LMS) and creating tailored UI assets to improve the digital experience for players, coaches, and parents.

Challenge
How do you design a digital experience that feels age-appropriate, emotionally engaging, and intuitive for multiple audiences—while preserving the core values of community, sport, and mental wellbeing?

Approach
1. Multi-Audience Mapping
I created user flows and wireframes for three core personas: players (youth), coaches, and parents. Each had unique content needs and motivational drivers, so I ensured a tailored UX approach for each path.

2. Streamlined Navigation
The LMS was restructured to simplify access to weekly modules, tools, and progress tracking—encouraging continuous engagement without overwhelming users.

3. Visual Motivation Through UI Assets
To encourage progress and build momentum, I designed:
Badges & Rewards: Milestone badges for course completion and weekly engagement.
Custom Icons & Illustrations: Youth-friendly visuals that reinforced lessons and made navigation more inviting.
Responsive Templates: Modular components optimized for mobile-first access.

4. Visual Consistency
Assets were developed in alignment with the 1616 brand identity to maintain trust and cohesion across the platform.

Outcome
1. Improved user navigation across LMS modules for all user types
2. Increased clarity and accessibility of weekly learning materials
3. Visually engaging UI assets helped enhance motivation and encourage participation
4. Contributed to a more holistic, emotionally supportive learning experience for players and families

What I Learned
Designing for youth and families requires empathy, clarity, and a balance of fun and function. This project reminded me of the power of simple design systems that scale across audiences—especially when mental health and learning outcomes are at stake.